Stephen R. Bown Creates a Lasting Impact on Canadians' Understanding of Shared History

Recipient of the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Popular Media: The Pierre Berton Award.

Stephen R. Bown’s work has transformed Canadians’ understanding of their history. Whether uncovering lesser-known events or exploring Canada’s foundational stories, Bown strives to make the past accessible, meaningful, and, yes, even entertaining.

His recent best-selling books, The Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson’s Bay Empire, and Dominion: The Railway and the Rise of Canada, offer fresh perspectives by highlighting lesser-known figures, events, and viewpoints. Through meticulous research, Bown introduces new voices, such as Dukesang Wong, whose diary provides the only known first-hand account of a Chinese labourer working on the CPR in the 1880s. Bown also highlights figures such as Matonabbee, the Dene leader who expanded trade for the Hudson’s Bay Company, and Jerry Potts, the Blackfoot interpreter and guide for the North-West Mounted Police.

Bown’s award-winning writing has been praised for its narrative and immersive style, which blends storytelling with factual depth. His work not only entertains readers but also enriches public discourse, creating a lasting impact on how Canadians view and understand their shared history. Thanks to his extensive research, inclusive approach, and crucial insights, contemporary Canadians are better equipped to understand the importance of the past and how it continues to shape the present.

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